Martin defends candidate strategy despite losses

FIANNA FÁIL leader Micheál Martin last night defended his decision to field more than one candidate in constituencies across the country.

Before and during the election campaign, there had been widespread criticism of Mr Martin’s failure to order candidates to stand aside so the party’s low percentage vote would not split. High profile electoral casualties of this two-candidate strategy were Mary Hanafin and Barry Andrews in Dun Laoghaire and Denis O’Donovan and Christy O’Sullivan in Cork South West.

Speaking from Cork City Hall after he topped the poll in Cork South Central, the party leader accused political pundits of “overplaying” the need to reduce candidate numbers.